How have Indigenous peoples in Australia struggled for rights and freedoms?
SOURCE 1: The Day of Mourning Protest in 1938 was held in defiance of the national sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) celebrations
When British explorers and settlers arrived on the east coast of Australia in the 18th century, they did not understand the Indigenous population. The British failed to negotiate treaties. They looked for signs of permanent residence, and could find none. They looked for evidence of farming, and could find none. As a result they established their settlements and took little account of any rights the Indigenous Australians might be entitled to. It was News South Wales Governor Sir Richard Bourke in 1835 who established the concept of terra nullius, a Latin term that literally translates as ‘nobody’s land’. While the British recognised the existence of Indigenous Australians, they did not recognise Indigenous occupation or use of the land. Bourke’s proclamation meant that Indigenous Australians were not legally able to sell or acquire land. This became the basis of Australian law until 1992.
The terra nullius ruling placed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a legal disadvantage that also translated into other aspects of life. By the time Australians celebrated 150 years of British settlement, in 1938, Indigenous Australians were commemorating a ‘Day of Mourning’ (see Source 1 above). It was difficult for them to point to any positive outcomes from British settlement. It was only after Australia’s championing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 that attention gradually turned towards the situation and status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The period since World War II has seen the initial struggle for and gradual acceptance of civil rights for Indigenous Australians. Legal doctrines such as terra nullius were challenged and overturned, and recognition was given to the suffering of the Stolen Generations, highlighted in 2008 by a formal apology from the federal government (adapted from Carrodus 2012).
ACTIVITY 1: Frontier Violence - John Pilger's Perspective on Australian History up to 1985
Watch the following film by John Pilger and complete a 3:2:1:R:I:Q.
INSTRUCTIONS:
The film you will watch goes for 55 minutes. Therefore, complete a 3:2:1:R:I:Q in your notes at three stages while watching - after first 15 minutes, again after next 15 minutes, and lastly again at the end.
to complete a 3:2:1:R:I:Q, do the following:
3 things you REMEMBER from the film
2 INSIGHTS, things that make you go, "Ahh, now I understand why we do/say/think/act like ...."
1 QUESTION, if you have one, about something you don't understand or a point on which you would like clarification.
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ACTIVITY 2: UNITED NATIONS' UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
In December 1948 the United Nations ratified a declaration that would legally hold member nations around the world responsible for acts of cruelty towards other human beings - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The interesting point was that Australia was a major participant in the drafting of this declaration, yet, at home in Australia, many Indigenous Australians were saying that the Australian government was already in breach of the Declaration. What do you think?
HOMEWORK EXERCISE: Download and read through the following information and respond to the questions in your notes.
Below are clips from the series 'The First Australians - A Fair Deal for a Black Race'. As you watch the ONE clip (the teacher will divide among class), note down in a table (see example below) any breaches of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights as shown in Souce 3.5 in the document from Exercise 1.
Then, you will share your responses with others with the same clip and make any necessary additions to your notes.
Lastly, you will teach others from other groups as an 'expert' on your clip - they will add to their notes.
Table example:
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article information
Information from 'The First Australians - A Fair Deal for a Black Race' in breach of Declaration
Episode 6/7, Part 1/5 Video Link 1: CLICK HERE Episode 6/7, Part 2/5 Video Link 2: CLICK HERE Episode 6/7, Part 3/5 Video Link 3: CLICK HERE
The policies of Australian colonial and state governments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries compounded the negative effects of the ongoing European settlement since 1788. Three of these policies were that of 'segregation', 'Protection' and ‘assimilation’. These were new forms of control. If Indigenous Australians were not going to simply ‘die out’ then all efforts should be directed to ensuring that mixed-race Aborigines, in particular, could be integrated. This led to the forced removal of Aboriginal children as new powers were given to ‘Welfare’ officials to judge whether children were ‘progressing’ - The 'Stolen Generations'.
EXERCISE 1: As you watch the Clickview documentary 'White Australia has a Black History', complete the following student response sheet on each section of the documentary:
HOMEWORK EXERCISE: This can be worked through independently at home (for homework) or used in class to support discussions and activities in Exercise 2, depending on your teacher's instructions
Revision tutorial on analysing statistics and responding in writing:
1) video tutorial:
2) Written response:
EXTENSION EXERCISE: Listen to some of the testimonies of the Stolen Generations: CLICK HERE. Then, reassess your position on the 2008 'apology' from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Has anything changed as a result of this?
EXTENSION EXERCISE: Conduct some online research on the Bringing Them Home report. Explain with reference to your research on the forum below, 'What do you think its contribution to Australian history is?'
How have Indigenous peoples in Australia struggled for rights and freedoms?
When British explorers and settlers arrived on the east coast of Australia in the 18th century, they did not understand the Indigenous population. The British failed to negotiate treaties. They looked for signs of permanent residence, and could find none. They looked for evidence of farming, and could find none. As a result they established their settlements and took little account of any rights the Indigenous Australians might be entitled to.
It was News South Wales Governor Sir Richard Bourke in 1835 who established the concept of terra nullius , a Latin term that literally translates as ‘nobody’s land’. While the British recognised the existence of Indigenous Australians, they did not recognise Indigenous occupation or use of the land. Bourke’s proclamation meant that Indigenous Australians were not legally able to sell or acquire land. This became the basis of Australian law until 1992.
The terra nullius ruling placed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a legal disadvantage that also translated into other aspects of life. By the time Australians celebrated 150 years of British settlement, in 1938, Indigenous Australians were commemorating a ‘Day of Mourning’ (see Source 1 above). It was difficult for them to point to any positive outcomes from British settlement. It was only after Australia’s championing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 that attention gradually turned towards the situation and status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The period since World War II has seen the initial struggle for and gradual acceptance of civil rights for Indigenous Australians. Legal doctrines such as terra nullius were challenged and overturned, and recognition was given to the suffering of the Stolen Generations, highlighted in 2008 by a formal apology from the federal government (adapted from Carrodus 2012).
ACTIVITY 1: Frontier Violence - John Pilger's Perspective on Australian History up to 1985
Watch the following film by John Pilger and complete a 3:2:1:R:I:Q.
INSTRUCTIONS:==
==
ACTIVITY 2: UNITED NATIONS' UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
In December 1948 the United Nations ratified a declaration that would legally hold member nations around the world responsible for acts of cruelty towards other human beings - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The interesting point was that Australia was a major participant in the drafting of this declaration, yet, at home in Australia, many Indigenous Australians were saying that the Australian government was already in breach of the Declaration. What do you think?HOMEWORK EXERCISE: Download and read through the following information and respond to the questions in your notes.
EXERCISE 1: Jigsaw Activity
Table example:
Episode 6/7, Part 2/5 Video Link 2: CLICK HERE
Episode 6/7, Part 3/5 Video Link 3: CLICK HERE
ACTIVITY 3: SEGREGATION, PROTECTION, ASSIMILATION & STOLEN GENERATIONS
EXERCISE 1: As you watch the Clickview documentary 'White Australia has a Black History', complete the following student response sheet on each section of the documentary:
HOMEWORK EXERCISE: This can be worked through independently at home (for homework) or used in class to support discussions and activities in Exercise 2, depending on your teacher's instructions
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EXERCISE 2: PowerPoint on the Assimilation Policy/Stolen Generations - to download CLICK HERE and writing task scaffold:
Revision tutorial on analysing statistics and responding in writing:
1) video tutorial:
2) Written response:
EXTENSION EXERCISE: Listen to some of the testimonies of the Stolen Generations: CLICK HERE. Then, reassess your position on the 2008 'apology' from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Has anything changed as a result of this?
EXTENSION EXERCISE: Conduct some online research on the Bringing Them Home report. Explain with reference to your research on the forum below, 'What do you think its contribution to Australian history is?'